Darbhanga man 5th to be held for blasts

Hours after the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) filed a charge sheet into the 13/7 Mumbai serial blasts, it announced the arrest of the fifth accused in the case. Rahul Mahajani reports.

Hours after the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) filed a charge sheet into the 13/7 Mumbai serial blasts, it announced the arrest of the fifth accused in the case. Mohammed Qafeel Ansari, 55, who ran a cycle repair shop in Darbhanga (Bihar), was shown arrested for allegedly aiding and abetting the conspirators in the 13/7 blasts case.

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ATS chief and additional director general of police Rakesh Maria said the agency got the transfer custody of Ansari from the Delhi police on May 19. He has been remanded to police custody till May 29.

“He has been arrested for aiding and abetting members of the Indian Mujahideen (IM) and also providing them logistics for the 13/7 blasts case,” he said. ATS officials said Ansari was very close to Yasin Bhatkal, one of the main leaders of the IM. While Bhatkal recruited members for the IM in Darbhanga, it was Ansari who would brainwash the youth, they said. He was the main motivator of the IM in Darbhanga, they added.

“Ansari is one of the main conspirators and knows all the top IM people. He is also aware of all the conspiracies and blasts that the IM has orchestrated, and his arrest will throw more light on the 13/7 conspiracy,” they said.

ATS officials said Ansari knew about all of Yasin Bhatkal’s plans and, “could throw light on the communications modules of Yasin to Riyaz and Iqbal Bhatkal in Pakistan.”

He is also likely to give information on new members of the IM in Bihar, they said.

“Qafeel Ansari has been with Yasin since 2007 and has been one of the most active members of the IM,” the officials said.

Ansari was introduced to Yasin Bhatkal by Gehur Jamali, a key IM operative from Darbhanga, they said.